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Geothermal Comes to the Battlefield

ByDelaney Schlake (M. Div Middler, Trinity Lutheran Seminary)

150 years ago, the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
(LTSG) figured prominently into the story of the Civil War. Pickett’s charge
was inaugurated on Seminary Ridge, and the cupola of the seminary building itself
served as a lookout point for both the North and South at different junctures
throughout the battle. Gettysburg has seen its fair share of historical
moments, becoming woven into the fiber of American identity, culminating in the
150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in November. (Read
more about LTSG History here: http://www.ltsg.edu/about-ltsg/seminary-history.)

Now, in 2013, it seems that the Lutheran Theological Seminary at
Gettysburg is making history again--this time, through a literally
groundbreaking installation of geothermal technology on their historic campus.

When asked about the process by which the possibility of
geothermal energy was approached, the Rev. John Spangler (Executive assistant
to the president for communication and planning at LTSG) says that it became
clear that the seminary needed to think about some sustainable solutions to the
recurring maintenance problems with the 100+ year old steam heating system.
Instead of continuing to fix the ancient boilers as they repeatedly broke, Rev.
Spangler and a group of ecologically and economically minded dreamers came up
with the idea of implementing geothermal energy at Gettysburg.

The first two buildings to use geothermal heat pumps for the HVAC
systems include the Seminary’s historic chapel as well as Schmucker Hall, which
has since become a Seminary Ridge history museum, named for seminary founder
and important German-American Lutheran theologian, Samuel Schmucker.

The seminary began this process of converting to geothermal with
feasibility studies spanning from 2007-2008, embarking on the installation of
geothermal heating in the chapel during 2011. The work in the chapel took
approximately four months, followed by a year of rehabilitation and geothermal
work in Schmucker.

When asked how the seminary was able to fund such an expansive
overhaul of century-old technology, Spangler shared that the seminary had
recently engaged in a capital campaign, raising one million dollars for the
chapel renovation project. Through state and federal grants, donations, and tax
credits, LTSG was able to update both the chapel and Schmucker Hall for just
shy of twenty million dollars.

Spangler is optimistic about this formidable investment
Gettysburg has made in geothermal energy, asserting that the money saved on
energy costs will surprisingly quickly re-coup the money spent on installation.
On the heels of this innovation and success, LTSG hopes to expand their use of
geothermal energy across more of their 52 acre and 25 building campus.

It is clear that Gettysburg is faithfully responding to the
questions around what it means to engage in a Spirit-led, Gospel-rooted love of
creation through their work in geothermal energy. Spangler was sure to mention that
this movement of the Holy Spirit is not only taking place at Gettysburg, but
Wartburg Seminary (Dubuque, IA) as well. Wartburg has also faithfully engaged
in the process of implementing geothermal energy as a sustainable, responsible
method of heating their buildings.

Gettysburg is deeply entrenched in the conversation around
eco-justice and eco-spirituality, as evidenced by more than just their
implementation of geothermal energy. The Seminary has engaged in a number of
projects based in identifying and reducing their carbon footprint, as well as
the myriad methods of academic engagement offered, including courses like Ecology and Religion and EcoTheology in Northern Appalachia, both
taught by the Rev. Dr. Gilson Waldkoenig.

The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg is also involved
in conversations around ecology and faith through Blessed Earth Seminary
Stewardship Alliance, GreenFaith: Interfaith Partners for the Environment, and
Lutherans Restoring Creation.

Because of their efforts to find sustainable, innovative ways to
update their campus and respond to the ecological crisis, Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg is a visible manifestation of all that God is doing in
reconciling the world and gathering all of creation ever closer to Godself.